General Advice for IELTS exam-takers

by Anna Conway

Time is your greatest enemy!

To succeed on the IELTS test, you must use your time wisely. Many students do not finish at least 2­3questions in a section. The table below shows the time challenge you are faced with:

Section Total time Questions Time for eachquestion

Listening 30 min 40 45 sec

Reading 60 min 40 90 sec

Writing 60 min 2 Task 1 ­ 20 min

Task 2 ­ 40 min

Speaking 11­14 min N/A N/A

As you can see, the time constraints are harsh. To succeed, you must ration your time properly. Thereason that time is so critical is that every question counts the same toward your final score. If you run outof time on any passage, the questions that you do not answer will hurt your score far more than earlierquestions that you spent extra time on and feel certain are correct.

In the Reading Section the test is separated into passages. Make sure that you do not spend more than 20minutes on each passage. If you have to rush during the last passage, then you will miss out on answeringeasier questions correctly. What will help you here is knowing where to look for the right answers.

Strategy to use

Make sure that you have read the question carefully and fully understand what you are required to do. Payattention to the task, i.e. how many words you can write and whether answers (letters) can repeat or not.The latter is marked as

NB You may use any letter more than once.

Some question types usually follow the passage order. These are:

True/False/Not GivenYes/No/Not GivenMultiple ChoiceShort Answer QuestionsSentence CompletionSentence Completion with a Box

If you are in doubt whether the answer is False or Not Given, try to correct the information in the sentence.If you can, then it is False, if you cannot because you do not have enough information in the text, then theanswer is Not Given.

True/False/Not Given questions refer to the facts presented in the text. Yes/No/Not Given questions referto opinions in the text.

Pace Yourself

Wear a watch to the IELTS Test. At the beginning ofthe test, check the time, and check the time aftereach passage or every few questions to make sureyou are not behind. If you can work quickly, you canpace yourself at half a minute per question, whichmakes it easy to keep track of your time. If you findthat you are falling behind time during the test, youmust speed up. Even though a rushed answer is morelikely to be incorrect, it is better to miss a couple ofquestions by being rushed, than to completely misslater questions by not having enough time. It is betterto end with more time than you need than to run out oftime.

If you are forced to speed up, do it efficiently. Usuallyone or more answer choices can be eliminated withouttoo much difficulty. Above all, don’t panic. Don’t speedup and just begin guessing at random choices. Bypacing yourself, and continually monitoring yourprogress against the clock or your watch, you willalways know exactly how far ahead or behind you arewith your available time. If you find that you are a fewminutes behind, don’t skip questions without spendingany time on it, just to catch back up. Spend perhaps a

little less than half a minute per question and after a few questions, you will have caught back up moregradually. Once you catch back up, you can continue working each problem at your normal pace. If youhave time at the end, go back then and finish the questions that you left behind.

Don’t get upset about questions that you cannot find answers for. Move on, complete the answers to thequestions in that passage and then look at the questions you have missed. You might be able to answer themissed questions more easily after you have completed all the tasks for that one passage, because you willhave learnt more information about the text. If you still cannot answer the questions, make an educatedguess and move on. You need to have enough time for the other passages.

Scanning

For Reading passages, don’t waste time reading, enjoying, and

completely understanding the passage. Simply scan the passage

to get a rough idea of what it is about. You will return to the

passage for each question, so there is no need to memorize it.

Only spend as much time scanning as is necessary to get a

vague impression of its overall subject content.

In general, look at the questions first, see which ones follow

passage order and which ones don’t. Start with the ones that

follow passage order because the answers to these are easier to

find and then do the other questions. By this time you may be

able to answer some of the questions if they are from the parts of the text which you have read to complete

the first set of questions.

Let me state an obvious fact: if you take the IELTS three times, you will get three different scores. This isdue to the way you feel on test day, the level of preparedness you have, and, despite IELTS’s claims to thecontrary, some tests WILL be easier for you than others.

Since so much depends on your score, you should maximize your chances of success. In order tomaximize the likelihood of success, you’ve got to prepare in advance. This means taking official practicetests and spending time learning the information and test taking strategies you will need to succeed.

You can always retake the test more than once, it is only a matter of finance. There are two tests a month

and you can take them both.

Listening Section

There are four sections with 10 questions each:

1. Social Needs – Conversation between two

speakers

2. Social Needs – Speech by one speaker

3. Educational or Training – Conversation between

up to four speakers

4. Educational or Training – Speech by one speaker

The best thing to do in this section that will help you greatly

during the listening section is to underline the keywords in the

questions while you have time to look at a group of questions. Try

to guess what the missing word is. Is it a singular or plural noun?

Is it a number or an adjective?, etc This will help you identify the correct answer while listening.

When the recording starts, concentrate and listen carefully.

DO NOT SWITCH OFF and start thinking about something different. You have to be totally focussed andlistening non­stop.

Reading SectionThe Reading module of the IELTS consists of a total of 40questions.

There are three passages, with a total of 2,000 to 2,750 words.

Skimming to find out the main ideaIn order to get the main idea of the text you should quickly skimmingthe passage, stopping to read only the first sentence of eachparagraph. A paragraph’s first sentence is usually the main topicsentence, and it gives you a summary of the content of theparagraph.

Once you’ve skimmed the passage, stopping to read only the firstsentences, you will have a general idea about what it is about, aswell as what is the expected topic in each paragraph. This should

usually help you with matching headings to paragraphs and with global multiple choice questions (when youare asked to state the purpose of the passage). If the first sentence doesn’t help you with the heading, readthe last sentence of each paragraph, which usually the summarizing sentence of that paragraph. This willhelp you find the answer.

Each question will contain clues as to where to find the answer in the passage. Do not just randomly searchthrough the passage for the correct answer to each question. Search scientifically. Find key word(s) orideas in the question that are going to either contain or be near the correct answer. These are typicallynouns, verbs, numbers, or phrases in the question that will probably be duplicated in the passage. Once youhave identified those key word(s) or idea, skim the passage quickly to find where those key word(s) or ideaappears. The correct answer choice will be nearby.

Example: What caused Martin to suddenly return to Paris?

The key word is Paris. Skim the passage quickly to find where this word appears. The answer will be closeby that word.

However, sometimes key words in the question are not repeated in the passage.In those cases, search for the general idea of the question.

Example: Which of the following was the psychological impact of the author’s childhood upon the remainderof his life?

Key words are 'childhood' or 'psychology'. While searching for those words, be alert for other words orphrases that have similar meaning, such as 'emotional effect' or 'mentally' which could be used in thepassage, rather than the exact word 'psychology'.

Numbers or years can be particularly good keywords to skim for, as they stand out from the rest of the text.

Example: Which of the following best describes the influence of Monet’s work in the 20th century?

20th contains numbers and will easily stand out from the rest of the text. Use 20th as the key word to skimfor in the passage.

Once you’ve quickly found the correct section of the passage to find the answer, focus upon the answerchoices. Sometimes a choice will repeat word for word a portion of the passage near the answer. However,beware of such duplication – it may be a trap! More than likely, the correct choice will paraphrase orsummarize the related portion of the passage, rather than being exactly the same wording.

For the answers that you think are correct, read them carefully and make sure that they answer thequestion. An answer can be factually correct, but it MUST answer the question asked. Additionally, twoanswers can both be seemingly correct, so be sure to read all of the answer choices, and make sure thatyou get the one that BEST answers the question.

Some questions will not have a keyword.

Example: Which of the following would the author of this passage likely agree with?In these cases, look for keywords in the answer choices. Then skim the passage to find where the answerchoice occurs. By skimming to find where to look, you can minimize the time required.Sometimes it may be difficult to identify a good key word in the question to skim for in the passage. In thosecases, look for a key word in one of the answer choices to skim for. Often the answer choices can all befound in the same paragraph, which can quickly narrow your search.

Paragraph Focus (or which paragraph contains the following information?)Focus upon the first sentence of each paragraph, which is the most important. The main topic of theparagraph is usually there.

Once you’ve read the first sentence in the paragraph, you have a general idea about what each paragraphwill be about. As you read the questions, try to determine which paragraph will have the answer. Paragraphshave a concise topic. The answer should either obviously be there or obviously not. It will save time if youcan jump straight to the paragraph, so try to remember what you learned from the first sentences.

Example: The first paragraph is about poets; the second is about poetry. If a question asks about poetry,where will the answer be? The second paragraph.

The main idea of a passage is typically spread across all or most of its paragraphs. Whereas the main ideaof a paragraph may be completely different than the main idea of the very next paragraph, a main idea for apassage affects all of the paragraphs in one form or another.Example: What is the main idea of the passage?

For each answer choice, try to see how many paragraphs are related. It can help to count how manysentences are affected by each choice, but it is best to see how many paragraphs are affected by thechoice. Typically the answer choices will include incorrect choices that are main ideas of individual

paragraphs, but not the entire passage. That is why it is crucial to choose ideas that are supported by themost paragraphs possible.

Eliminate ChoicesSome choices can quickly be eliminated. 'Andy Warhol lived there.' Is Andy Warhol even mentioned in thearticle? If not, quickly eliminate it.

When trying to answer a question such as 'the passage indicates all of the following EXCEPT' quickly skimthe paragraph searching for references to each choice. If the reference exists, scratch it off as a choice.Similar choices may be crossed off simultaneously if they are close enough.

In choices that ask you to choose 'which answer choice does NOT describe?' or 'all of the following answerchoices are identifiable characteristics, EXCEPT which?' look for answers that are similarly worded. Sinceonly one answer can be correct, if there are two answers that appear to mean the same thing, they mustBOTH be incorrect, and can be eliminated.

Example:A.) changing values and attitudesB.) a large population of mobile or uprooted people These answer choices are similar; they both describe afluid culture. Because of their similarity, they can be linked together. Since the answer can have only onechoice, they can also be eliminated together.

Contextual CluesLook for contextual clues. An answer can be right but not correct. The contextual clues will help you find theanswer that is most right and is correct. Understand the context in which a phrase is stated.

When asked for the implied meaning of a statement made in the passage, immediately go find thestatement and read the context it was made in. Also, look for an answer choice that has a similar phrase tothe statement in question.Example: In the passage, what is implied by the phrase 'Churches have become more or less part of thefurniture'?

Find an answer choice that is similar or describes the phrase 'part of the furniture' as that is the key phrasein the question. 'Part of the furniture' is a saying that means something is fixed, immovable, or set in theirways. Those are all similar ways of saying 'part of the furniture.' As such, the correct answer choice willprobably include a similar rewording of the expression. Example: Why was John described as 'morallydesperate'.

The answer will probably have some sort of definition of morals in it. 'Morals' refers to a code of right andwrong behavior, so the correct answer choice will likely have words that mean something like that.

Fact/OpinionWhen asked about which statement is a fact or opinion, remember that answer choices that are facts willtypically have no ambiguous words. For example, how long is a long time? What defines an ordinaryperson? These ambiguous words

of 'long' and 'ordinary' should not be in a factual statement. However, if all of the choices have ambiguouswords, go to the context of the passage. Often a factual statement may be set out as a research finding.

Example: 'The scientist found that the eye reacts quickly to change in light.'Opinions may be set out in the context of words like thought, believed, understood, or wished.Example: 'He thought the Yankees should win the World Series.'

Make PredictionsAs you read and understand the passage and then the question, try to guess what the answer will be.Remember that most of the answer choices are wrong, and once you are reading them, your mind willimmediately become cluttered with answer choices designed to throw you off. Your mind is typically themost focused immediately after you have read the passage and question and digested its contents. If youcan, try to predict what the correct answer will be. You may be surprised at what you can predict.

Quickly scan the choices and see if your prediction is in the listed answer choices. If it is, then you can bequite confident that you have the right answer. It still won’t hurt to check the other answer choices, but mostof the time, you’ve got it!

Answer the QuestionIt may seem obvious to only pick answer choices that answer the question, but IELTS can create someexcellent answer choices that are wrong. Don’t pick an answer just because it sounds right, or you believe itto be true. It MUST answer the question. Once you’ve made your selection, always go back and check itagainst the question and make sure that you didn’t misread the question, and the answer choice doesanswer the question posed.

BenchmarkAfter you read the first answer choice, decide if you think it sounds correct or not. If it doesn’t, move on tothe next answer choice. If it does, make a mental note about that choice. This doesn’t mean that you’vedefinitely selected it as your answer choice, it just means that it’s the best you’ve seen thus far. Go aheadand read the next choice. If the next choice is worse than the one you’ve already selected, keep going tothe next answer choice. If the next choice is better than the choice you’ve already selected, then make amental note about that answer choice.

As you read through the list, you are mentally noting the choice you think is right. That is your newstandard. Every other answer choice must be benchmarked against that standard. That choice is correct

until proven otherwise by another answer choice beating it out. Once you’ve decided that no other answerchoice seems as good, do one final check to ensure that it answers the question posed.

New InformationCorrect answers will usually contain the information listed in the paragraph and question. Rarely willcompletely new information be inserted into a correct answer choice. Occasionally the new information maybe related in a manner than IELTS is asking for you to interpret, but seldom.

Example:The argument above is dependent upon which of the following assumptions?A.) Scientists have used Charles’s Law to interpret the relationship.If Charles’s Law is not mentioned at all in the referenced paragraph and argument, then it is unlikely that thischoice is correct. All of the information needed to answer the question is provided for you, and so youshould not have to make guesses that are unsupported or choose answer choices that have unknowninformation that cannot be reasoned.

Key WordsLook for answer choices that have the same keywords in them as the question.Example:Which of the following, if true, would best explain the reluctance of politicians since 1980 to support thisfunding?

Look for the key words 'since 1980' to be referenced in the correct answer choice. Most valid answerchoices would probably include a phrase such as 'since 1980, politicians have...'

Valid InformationDon’t discount any of the information provided in the passage, particularly shorter ones. Every piece ofinformation may be necessary to determine the correct answer. None of the information in the passage isthere to throw you off (while the answer choices will certainly have information to throw you off). If twoseemingly unrelated topics are discussed, don’t ignore either. You can be confident there is a relationship,or it wouldn’t be included in the passage, and you are probably going to have to determine what is thatrelationship for the answer.

Time ManagementIn technical passages, do not get lost on the technical terms. Skip them and move on. You want a generalunderstanding of what is going on, not a mastery of the passage.

When you encounter material in the selection that seems difficult to understand, it often may not benecessary and can be skipped. Only spend time trying to understand it if it is going to be relevant for aquestion. Understand difficult phrases only as a last resort.

Identify each question by type. Usually the wording of a question will tell you whether you can find the

answer by referring directly to the passage or by using your reasoning powers. You alone know whichquestion types you customarily handle with ease and which give you trouble and will require more time.

Final WarningsHedge Phrases RevisitedOnce again, watch out for critical 'hedge' phrases, such as likely, may, can, will often, sometimes, etc,often, almost, mostly, usually, generally, rarely, sometimes. Question writers insert these hedge phrases,to cover every possibility. Often an answer will be wrong simply because it leaves no room for exception.Example: Animals live longer in cold places than animals in warm places.

This answer choice is wrong, because there are exceptions in which certain warm climate animals livelonger. This answer choice leaves no possibility of exception. It states that every animal species in coldplaces live longer than animal species in warm places. Correct answer choices will typically have a keyhedge word to leave room for exceptions.Example: In severe cold, a polar bear cub is likely to survive longer than an adult polar bear.

This answer choice is correct, because not only does the passage imply that younger animals survive betterin the cold, it also allows for exceptions to exist. The use of the word 'likely' leaves room for cases in whicha polar bear cub might not survive longer than the adult polar bear.

Word Usage QuestionsWhen asked how a word is used in the passage, don’t use your existing knowledge of the word. Thequestion is being asked precisely because there is some strange or unusual usage of the word in thepassage. Go to the passage and use contextual clues to determine the answer. Don’t simply use thepopular definition you already know.

Switchback WordsStay alert for 'switchbacks'. These are the words and phrases frequently used to alert you to shifts inthought. The most common switchback word is 'but'. Others include although, however, nevertheless, on theother hand, even though, while, in spite of, despite, regardless of.

Avoid 'Fact Traps'Once you know which paragraph the answer will be in, focus on that paragraph. However, don’t get

distracted by a choice that is factually true about the paragraph. Your search is for the answer that answers

the question, which may be about a tiny aspect in the paragraph. Stay focused and don’t fall for an answer

that describes the larger picture of the paragraph. Always go back to the question and make sure you’re

choosing an answer that actually answers the question and is not just a true statement.